USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1920-1925 > Part 9
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An intermission was taken for luncheon until 11.45.
Following is the result of balloting for Town Officers :
For Selectmen for one year :
Alfred E. Green,
222 votes
Herbert Packard,
180 votes
Wendell Phillips,
276 votes
Sidney C. Soule, 327 votes
Scattering, 3 votes
Blanks,
117
For Assessor for three years :
Sidney C. Soule,
325 votes
Scattering,
1 vote
Blanks, 49
For Overseers of the Poor for one year :
Alfred E. Green, 215 votes
Herbert Packard,
186 votes
Wendell Phillips,
269 votes
Sidney C. Soule, 317 votes
Blanks, 138
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For Town Clerk for one year : George H. Stearns, Scattering, Blanks,
325 votes 2 votes 48
Town Treasurer for one year.
George H. Stearns,
323 votes
Scattering,
1 vote
Blanks,
51
Collector of Taxes for one year :
George H. Stearns,
323 votes 52
Blanks,
Constables for one year :
Joseph H. Nickerson,
218 votes
Charles S. Pierce, ,
265 votes
Warren C. Prince,
223 votes
Robert I. Tower,
215 votes
Blanks,
205
School Committee for three years : John Simmons,
315 votes
Blanks,
60
Board of Health for three years :
Charles W. Eaton,
312 votes
Blanks,
63
Cemetery Trustee for five years : William J. Alden,
323 votes
Scattering,
1 vote
Blanks,
51
For Tree Warden for one year : John D. Morrison,
296 votes
Scattering,
1 vote
Blanks,
78
For Auditors for one year :
Herbert E. Walker, Myron M. White, Blanks,
319 votes
289 votes
141
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"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxi- cating beverages in this town ?"
"Yes," "No," 165
168
Blanks, 42
Voted, that the appointment of necessary officers not chosen by ballot be left with the Selectmen.
Voted, to take up and consider the reports of the various Town Officers and Committees separately.
The Chairman of the Selectmen made a report on matters relating to that Board, and it was then
Voted, that the reports of other Town Officers and Commit- tees be accepted as printed in the Town Report.
Voted, to raise and appropriate $2,862.23 for payment of bills remaining unpaid for the year 1920, and overdrafts in Police, Forest, Health and Snow departments.
Voted, that Article 7, ("Will the Town vote to apply the dividend from the Plymouth County Dog Fund to the Support of Schools ?") and Article 13, ("To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote of March, 1920, whereby they voted to pay from fifty to sixty-two and one-half cents an hour for labor, and $10 for man and double team,") be taken up in connection with Article 6, ("To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges.")
Voted, to raise and appropriate $17,200 as follows : Resurfacing St. George and Washington streets,
Loan of 1917, $800 00
Resurfacing King Caesar Road, Loan of 1918, 1,200 00
Road Machinery, Loan of 1919, 1,000 00
Resurfacing Washington street, Loan of 1919, 1,000 00
Resurfacing Columbus Avenue and Marshall street,
Loan of 1919, 2,200 00
Resurfacing Chestnut, Toby Garden and Elm streets,
Loan of 1920, 6,000 00
Interest,
5,000 00
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Voted, to raise and appropriate, for Gypsy and Browntail Moth work, $1,693.03, and in this connection it was voted that this money be spent between May 1 and August 1, and that the town work shall be done before any private work is done. State, County and Highway Tax, $21,000 00
Cemeteries,
1,500 00
Plymouth County Hospital,
10,610 50
Support of Schools,
25,000 00
Transportation of School Children,
6,000 00
Fire Protection,
400 00
Forest Warden,
500 00
Tree Warden,
100 00
Snow Removal,
1,000 00
Street Lighting,
1,569 00
Health Department, including Vital Statistics,
1,050 00
Animal Inspection,
150 00
Inspection of Slaughtered Animals,
150 00
Charities,
6,000 00
Soldiers' and Sailors' Aid,
100 00
Town Physicians,
400 00
(And voted that the Town Physicians make an annual
report to the Selectmen of the Town)
Selectmen,
1,200 00
Election and Registration,
350 00
Treasurer,
950 00
Collector of Taxes,
1,000 00
Assessors,
1,200 00
Law,
500 00
Town Office,
700 00
Town Clerk,
450 00
Accounting,
600 00
Police,
500 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures,
150 00
Bounties,
75 00
Unclassified,
1,300 00
Duxbury Six
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Town Dump, 50 00
Town Landing, 50 00
Highways, Bridges, and Sidewalks, 7,000 00
In connection with the appropriation for Highways it was
Voted, that no money be expended for light oil on sand or gravel roads.
Voted, to apply the dividend from the Plymouth County Dog Fund to the Support of Schools.
Voted, to rescind the vote of March, 1920, whereby it was voted to pay from 50 to 621/2 cents per hour for labor, and $10 for a man and double team.
Voted, to raise and appropriate the sum of $300, to be ex- pended under the direction of William Wadsworth Post No. 165, G. A. R., for the observance of Memorial Day.
Voted, that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select- men, be authorized to borrow money from time to time, in an- ticipation of revenue for the financial year beginning January 1, 1922, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote, to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
Voted, to lay on the table Article 10, which reads: "To see if the Town will vote to authorize its Treasurer, with the ap- proval of the Selectmen, to hire money to continue the Moth work from December 1, 1921, to March 1, 1922.
Voted, that the balance of the 1917 Overlay of Taxes, $684.35 be transferred to the Reserve Fund for the year 1921.
Voted, to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 to repair the dyke at the Mattakeesett Court Town Landing.
Voted, to raise and appropriate, for the use of the Plym- outh County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, the sum of $200, and chose Alpheus H. Walker a Town Director, as provided in Chapter 273 of the Acts of 1918.
Voted, unanimously, that there be appropriated the sum of $10,000 for the completion of Toby Garden and Elm streets ; and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to make a temporary loan in ac-
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cordance with the provisions of Section 6, of Chapter 44, of the General Laws, any money received from the State as reim- bursement to be applied to the payment of said temporary loan.
Voted, not to raise any money to resurface with sand asphalt that portion of Powder Point Avenue, from the residence of Mr. Phillips, easterly to Gurnet Bridge.
Voted, not to appropriate any money, this year, for resur- facing Harrison Street and Mattakeesett Court, but whatever repairs are made to be taken from the General Highway Ap- propriation.
Voted, that no appropriation be made for the improvement of Crescent Street, beginning at Standish Street and contin- uing around the westerly side of Captain's Hill to a point called "Allen's Gate."
Voted, to indefinitely postpone action on Article 19, which reads : "Will the Town raise and appropriate $1,000 to re- pair Temple Street and make it fit for public travel, from barn on E. S. Stevens' estate northerly by W. H. Hunt's place to Mr. Gerrish's place ?"
Voted, unanimously, to postpone action on Article 20, which reads : "Will the Town raise and appropriate a sum of money ($1,000 or more) to be expended during the season of 1921, in the construction of a permanent sidewalk along the main thoroughfare between Duxbury Railroad station and South Duxbury station, via St. George, Washington and South Station streets, and designate the place of beginning and the materials to be used ?"
Voted, that a Committee of Five be chosen from the floor to consider the matter of laying out a highway leading from the southerly end of Columbus Avenue, southerly and westerly to Standish Street, and the following were chosen: Charles K. B. Nevin, Charles S. Clark, Percy L. Walker, C. Warren Pierce and Edward S. O'Neil, and Edward S. O'Neil was elected Chairman of this Committee.
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Voted, to indefinitely postpone Article 22, which reads : "What action, if any, will the Town take toward the removal or change in location of the stone watering trough at the junc- tion of St. George, Cove and Washington streets and Powder Point Avenue ?"
Voted, to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for the Duxbury Free Library, to be used for the purchase of books.
Voted, to accept an act of the Legislature (Chapter 153, Acts of 1916) regarding the Slaughtering License Fee.
Voted, to raise and appropriate $200 for improvement of the public playground at Train Field, part of this money to be used to provide swings and parallel bars for the children. This money to be expended under the direction of the Train Field Committee of the Duxbury Rural Society.
Voted, to return to the Treasury the unexpended balance of North Street repairs, Resurfacing Washington Street, Stone Road Repairs, Temple and Church Streets Layout, Surveying Washington Street, Commission on Schools and Fire Protec- tion at South Duxbury. Total amount, $720.99.
Voted, to accept the layout by the Selectmen, on February 25, 1921, of the south side of Massasoit Road, to supersede the layouts of 1907 and 1920.
Voted, that the Moderator be paid the usual amount for his services.
Voted, to adjourn.
GEORGE H. STEARNS, Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, MAY 31, 1921.
Chose, Harry B. Bradley, Moderator.
The Tellers, Russell B. DeWolf and E. Burton Freeman, were sworn by the Town Clerk.
On the motion of Mrs. Margaret L. Edgar, that fifty cents
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per hour be paid for Town labor, eight hours to constitute a day's work, forty-seven (47) voted in favor and sixty-eight (68) against, and the motion was not carried, and was so de- clared by the moderator.
Voted, to adjourn.
GEORGE H. STEARNS, Town Clerk.
STATEMENT OF DOG LICENSES ISSUED.
Whole number of dogs licensed,
146
Males,
123
Females, 23
Kennel,
1
Paid County Treasurer,
$356.60
Fees, paid Town Treasurer,
29.40
Duxbury, Dec. 3, 1921.
GEORGE H. STEARNS, Clerk.
JURY LIST FOR TOWN OF DUXBURY FOR 1922
George A. Studley, laborer Arthur C. Greene, laborer Harry B. Bradley, rug mfr. Hubert Needham, fisherman Gershom B. Chandler, carpenter John H. Glover, machinist John Simmons, supt.
Harry E. Hunt, fisherman
Walter F. Weston, laborer John D. Morrison, laborer Ward T. Hall, farmer Paul H. Cushing, garage business
Herbert E. Walker, retired John P. Burgess, retired Oscar B. Ryder, laborer Roy E. Parks, laborer
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Duxbury
For the Year Ending December 31
1921
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ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Ralph K. Bearce, Chairman, term expires in 1923 John Simmons, term expires in 1924
Elizabeth A. Phillips, Secretary, term expires in 1922
The regular meetings of the Committee are held at 2.00 p. m. on the first day of each month at the committee rooms.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Frederick E. Bragdon, Egypt, Mass. Telephone Scituate 289-2
School Physician, N. K. Noyes, M. D.
Attendance Officers, Harry G. Freeman, Edw. S. O'Nei!
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
The winter term begins January 3, 1922 and closes February 24. Reopens March 6 and closes April 28.
The spring term opens May 8; closing (to be announced).
The fall term opens September 5 and closes December 22, 1922.
The winter term opens January 2, 1923.
HOLIDAYS.
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 31, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The School Committee, Superintendent of Schools, Prin- cipal of High School, Supervisors of Music and Drawing, herewith submit their reports.
Nineteen hundred and twenty-one has been an uneventful but successful year in many instances. The standard of our schools has been raised through the great efforts of our Superintendent and Teachers.
The Committee regretted the loss of some of our former teachers, but were very fortunate to fill the positions with successors who have maintained the standard of our schools.
As transportation was a much agitated question of the past year, it may be of interest to the citizens of Duxbury to know of the slight changes made. It was the intention of the Committee to discontinue one route in the west part of the town by combining North and West Duxbury, but the increase in the number of children would not allow the change to be made, so the two routes were continued.
Ashdod school being overcrowded, the Millbrook route was extended to North Duxbury with very little added ex- pense, and eight children are now transported to Millbrook and Village school, which seems to be giving better satis- faction to all concerned.
The South Duxbury barge was discontinued on the Bay road, as the children were within the two mile limit. The Committee measured the distances as accurately as possible with a speedometer and the children who live outside of the two mile limit were allowed to ride in preference to others who live within the limit, this lessening the number
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to be transported. Two miles seems a long distance for the lower grade children to walk, but all cannot be accommo- dated without an increase in the appropriation for trans .. portation.
Only necessary repairs have been made. The partition in Ashdod school building was changed, the interior painted and a well driven (which is now an experiment on account of the location and subsoil), which will be greatly appre- ciated if proven a success.
The seats in Tarkiln Intermediate, South Duxbury, and Millbrook schools have been reversed. One side of the roof of Tarkiln Intermediate building was shingled, interior painted and cesspool and drain laid, as the waste water from the sink was contaminating the drinking water.
A new wardrobe was built in Tarkiln primary, and screens built in front of toilets where needed. The halls were sheathed and painted and ceilings murescoed in South Dux- bury school house. At Village Grammar a partition was placed in the basement to provide a sanitary place for the making of cocoa. Minor repairs, which seem unnecessary to mention, were made on all buildings.
The supplies and movable property in Island Creek build- ing were taken to the town office and schools where needed, in lieu of purchasing new.
Some of the buildings are very much in need of paint. This must be done next year if they are to be kept in proper repair. The grounds around the buildings need grading and beautifying in many of the districts.
Your Committee still has consolidation foremost in mind, as the present system is not entirely satisfactory and up to the standard, although a great improvement can be seen in the last few years. But the town still wishes to progress.
As has been expressed by a few, "One more burden has been added to the town by the State," a school nurse. Your Committee feel it is one more added item to the school
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budget, but a great help in time of need, as there have been times when the school physician was not available.
This is an opportune time to express the Committee's appreciation of the kindness and assistance of the Duxbury Nurse Association, Inc., rendered the schools in past years. It is also timely to speak of the need of some means of com- fort for the children when taken ill so far from home, other than a bare settee for a bed and a coat for a pillow. With a little expense a few army cots and quilts can be added to our school equipment, and when not in use can be folded and placed in closets. We trust this will meet with the approval of all interested.
We recommend for the support of schools for the year 1922 an appropriation of $31,000, together with the dog fund and all reimbursements on school accounts.
In closing this report, your Committee wish to express their gratitude to the voters of the Town of Duxbury for their generous support in the past.
RALPH K. BEARCE, Chairman, ELIZABETH A. PHILLIPS, Secretary, JOHN SIMMONS
.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee of Duxbury :
Complying with custom and statutory law I present here- with a review of the work of the schools for the year 1921. The facts of attendance and receipts and expenditures will be found in the statistical tables. The written reports of the Principal of the High School and Supervisor of Music accompany this report.
As we review the achievements of the year we find nó outstanding events which merit our admiration or deserve criticism.
The schools have been operated as during the preceding year, with the exception of the Island Creek school, which was not opened in September because of the small number of pupils. Transportation routes were so arranged that the few children residing in this district could be carried to the West Side school. Thus the natural course of events gradually brings to pass the consolidation which in former years was offered as a desirable step and rejected. It is, perhaps, worthy of note that with the actual accomplish- ment of consolidation, there is less of objection and far more of satisfaction than was expected. This is also the experience of many communities.
Further drift in the direction of consolidation took place this last fall when motor transportation was extended to North Duxbury from the East Side. So far as reports have reached me, this arrangement, too, is proving satisfactory, or at least more satisfactory than the former way.
It is to be hoped that the good people of Duxbury will not forget that the housing arrangements for the West Side
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schools is confessedly merely a temporary shift and by no means acceptable as a solution of the school problem. Let us hope that economic conditions will soon enable us +o build a community building which will adequately and honorably reflect the' intelligence and progressiveness of this section of the town.
It may be well to again call attention to the argument for a consolidated East Side school.
Consider the meaning in terms of profit to pupils and re- turns for expenditures, of these enrolment figures :
I II
III
IV
Millbrook
8
2
6
7
Point
8
1
3
5
South Duxbury
4
10
5
5
20
13
14
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Here are three buildings maintained to do the work of two rooms.
Here are three teachers paralleling each other's work.
Here are twenty children of Grade I receiving the atten- tion of a teacher less than one-fourth of the school day be- cause of the four grades in one room.
Notice the single pupil of Grade II at the Point school, who ought to have as much time and attention from the teacher as a large class. If actually given, how expensive the instruction of that one child! Other illogical practices are easily seen in this simple tabulation or suggested by it.
The two rooms of the East Side Grammar school are filled to overflowing. Health and sanitation requirements call for more space. Should there be any further increase in school enrolment, problems will be created which will demand in- stant solution.
Enlargement of this building to provide for a splendid union school of six grades will be a step in the right direc- tion, and in keeping with the best traditions of Duxbury.
.
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But what about the upper grades ? One answer is, a com- bined Junior and Senior High School at some easily accessi- ble point, thereby removing the difficulties growing out of a double management of the High School plant. It seems but fair and just to call your attention to the unsatisfactory condition existing at the Academy in respect to heating, and the maintenance of fixed equipment. Much criticism has been made of the janitor service and the uneven temper- ature of the building, the temperature being excessively high in the annex and as excessively low in the old building.
From personal observation and investigation on a reason- ably cold day, I conclude that the boiler supplying steam for the main building is too small to fill the pipes with live steam. Consequently laying the blame on the janitor is unjust. Whatever be the cause, we cannot expect the best results with the temperature twenty degrees two low for comfort.
The use of the building during the summer months has been the occasion, twice, of loss of school equipment, and has made necessary a lot of delay in finding books and ma- terials for opening school in September. It would seem that some arrangement should be made in advance whereby the desirable use of the building might be continued, without subjecting the High School equipment to loss and derange- ment.
During the year the High School has had an entire change of teachers. Under the principalship of Mr. Mott for three years the school prospered greatly and gained recognition by the State and Collegiate Boards as a fitting school. Changes in teachers inevitably involve loss of motion, for a time, while acquaintances are being made and pupils and teachers are learning to work together. The present staff has the school well in hand. We expect the standards of the past year will be, not only maintained, but even sur- passed.
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The testimony of the teachers to the excellence of the preparation of the entering class is a tribute to our gram- mar school teachers, and confirms us in the belief that the course of study presented in the grades is suited to the needs of the pupils. Our attempt to "bridge the gap" be- tween the eighth grade and the High School seems to have been somewhat successful. We hope to make it more so.
Looking forward-what needs to be done to make educa- tion more efficient ? While we await the equipment for re- organization we can merely strive to get the best possible results from what we have-and we have a good deal.
We are emphasizing as best we can the importance of thoroughness in fundamentals-the ability to read, thought- fully and pleasingly, the acquirement of a good and attrac- tive handwriting, the habit of correct speech. On the side of character-training we sometimes feel keenly the apparent laxity of home training in courtesy and obedience to author -: ity. Not all of us are agreed that the social customs of the day, the inter-sex freedom, the extremes of dress, and too frequent dances are conducive to the formation of high ideals or to the fixing of high standards of conduct. The school can help in these things, but the hearty cooperation of school and home, and a public sentiment that makes itself felt are absolutely necessary for the greatest success in char- acter-forming.
The more isolated our several schools are, the more desir- able it seems to me, are activities which bring together both parents and pupils from widely scattered sections of the town. Carnival days, exhibitions, friendly contests, athletic sports, and the like, have high social value if kept on a high plane. Would it not be worth while to make more of the closing week of the school year and try to arrange a grand gala occasion for the whole town, which shall be at the same time instructive and entertaining, and a demonstration of community enterprise ? We are not able to do much in this
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line during the cold weather, but with the coming of spring it seems easily feasible, and very worth while to direct our school work along lines of cooperative projects which will bring us together in thought and sympathy and be produc- tive of real pleasure as well.
It seems quite superfluous to make any statement concern- ing the good will and friendliness that has been so manifest- ly present in and about all the work of the year, between Committee, teachers, citizens, pupils, and Superintendent.
The cheery faces of the children, their frank and hearty greetings make visiting schools a pleasure and lead one to think that perhaps the parents, too, though seldom seen, are nevertheless contributing their sympathy and appreciation through the children. However that may be, no censorious complaints have come to me, which in itself is a cause of pleasure.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK E. BRAGDON, Superintendent.
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HIGH SCHOOL REPORT
To the Superintendent of Schools :
An educator of note recently defined a good school as "a place of happiness, busyness and reasonable quiet." I be- lieve our school has attained the first and third of these ob- jectives and is steadily moving on toward the second.
It would seem fair to interpret enrollment and attendance as measures of happiness, and in these important respects the same advances which have marked the last three school years have continued through the fall term of 1921.
The following tabulation will prove helpful :
Total
Enrollmnt
Average
Attendance
Average
Membership
Per Cent.
Attendance
Fall term 1918,
53
48
51
90
Fall term 1919,
61
56
60
92
Fall term 1920,
64
56
59
93
Fall term 1921,
74
66.7
70
95.34
As a fine illustration of the splendid spirit which has obtained, we might cite the fact that recently (one cold morning when the Tarkiln bus failed to function) 14 of the 15 boys and girls usually transported by it, tramped over the road and reported less than half an hour late.
THE ENTERING CLASS.
I desire particularly to speak of the entering class, which seems to be strong in numbers (27), strong in preparation, and strong in possibilities. There is within it, further that positive leadership of the right sort without which any
Duxbury Seven
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high school class is seriously handicapped. This class will make its presence felt for four years.
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